All Natural Home Cold Remedies

Having a cold can often result in having to visit the doctor to receive medication to deal with the various symptoms. There is another alternative, try using old-fashioned, time-tested home cold remedies to treat the symptoms of the common cold. There are many tried and true home therapies and the ones listed below are safe for both adults and children unless otherwise specified. Many of the ingredients may already be in the pantry.

DRINK WATER

Drinking water is very important when fighting the common cold. Water is needed to keep the body well hydrated and this is very important when ill. Water is also very useful in thinning out mucous and aiding in easier respirations. Being well hydrated is a very easy to do home cold remedy.

STEAM INHALATION

The use of steam inhalation is a tried and true home cold therapy. This a very easy treatment to utilize. All that is needed is heat a large pot of water on the stove until boiling rapidly and producing steam. Turn off the heat and place your head over the pot of steaming water and breathe deeply through the nose.

Another variation would be to add herbs to the pot of steaming water and then breathing deeply through the nose as the herbs steep. Some herbs that have been shown to help the common cold include dried eucalyptus leaves, dried thyme leaves, dried rosemary leaves and dried peppermint leaves. Add 1-3 tablespoons of one or all of the herbs to the boiling water, then remove from heat and allow the herbs to steep while breathing in the vapors through the nose.

HOT TEA

The act of sipping hot tea is very soothing when combating the common cold. It also serves the purpose to break up the mucous and sooth a scratchy, irradiated, sore throat. Some excellent teas to sip include hot teas made with Echinacea, Goldenseal, Chamomile and Eucalyptus. Be sure to add honey to the hot tea as this is a naturally comforting to a sore throat.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Apple cider vinegar is a wonderful home remedy for many different ailments, including the common cold. All that is needed to experience the benefits of this therapy is to mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon of honey and 8 ounces of water. This mixture can be ingested up to 3 times a day. This helps to increase immunity and fight infection. The honey also soothes sore throats.

HONEY

Take by mouth 1 teaspoon of honey three times a day to receive relief from a sore throat and to assist in soothing coughs.

NASAL IRRIGATION

Cleaning the nasal passages helps flush out extra mucus and clean the nasal passages. Using distilled water, mix ½ teaspoon baking soda and a ½ teaspoon of non-iodized salt with 8 ounces of warm water. In order to irrigate the nasal passages, hold head over a sink or a bowl. Now, draw up several ounces of the saline mixture into a nasal aspirator. Using this aspirator, breath through the mouth while compressing the aspirator and putting the saline mixture into each nostril. If this is to be used on children as a cold remedy, divide the recipe in half.

GARLIC

An antibiotic found in nature is garlic. Garlic works wonderfully at relieving the common cold. In order to use garlic as a cold remedy, combine olive oil with a small amount if crushed garlic. Allow this mixture to sit and rest for about 30 minutes. Apply this home remedy before going to bed. Gently massage the oil mixture into the bottom if the feet and then cover with socks. This home treatment works at night while you are sleeping.